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Star Wars: Legion

The next Star Wars game is every fan’s dream, recreating the battles of the original trilogy with armies of Stormtroopers, Rebels, speeder bikes, walkers and the clashing lightsabers of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Could Legion become bigger than X-Wing?

RETURN OF THE MINI

Words by Matt Jarvis

In the five-plus years since X-Wing debuted at Gen Con 2012, the spaceship dogfighting miniatures game has become a phenomenon of the modern tabletop scene. 13 waves of its iconic pre-painted ships have taken it to almost every corner of the Star Wars universe, while players continue to flock in droves to the regional and world championships held each year, posting their fine-tuned loadouts online and analysing the ‘meta’ of each ship in staggering depth.

Earlier this year, Fantasy Flight tried to apply the magic touch of X-Wing to one of its own creations, the fantasy world of Terrinoth first explored in Runebound, in the form of miniatures spin-off Runewars. Co-opting X-Wing’s distinctive dial-driven gameplay to a rank-and-file wargame of clashing swords, charging cavalry and mystical creatures, Runewars was engaging to play but lacked the captivating world and characters needed to find a place in players’ hearts. Undead skeleton warriors and four-armed golems just couldn’t match the roar of X-Wings and TIE Fighters as they blasted and barrel-rolled through space.

Characters are a suitably formidable presence on the battlefield, but they’re not invincible

There was perhaps only one thing that could possibly equal or even outmatch X-Wing for epic, fan-pleasing spectacle: a full-blown Star Wars infantry miniatures game, with squads of Stormtroopers and Rebels exchanging blaster fire among whizzing speeder bikes and stomping AT walkers across the snowy wastes of Hoth or forests of Endor. The dream of countless children – and adults – from 1977 to 2017.

It had been an ambition of Fantasy Flight itself since it first secured the rights to make Star Wars games in 2011. But there was a problem: putting out an epic sci-fi miniatures game would undoubtedly upset the publisher’s relationship with Games Workshop, the maker of wargaming icon Warhammer 40,000, another universe that Fantasy Flight had been expanding with board game spin-offs for a number of years.

About Tabletop Gaming

In December’s issue of Tabletop Gaming we have an exciting first look at massive miniatures game Star Wars: Legion, as its designers tell us about recreating the battles of the original trilogy on the tabletop.
As 2017 draws to a close, we’ve rounded up the 10 very best games of the year . We’ve also asked some of the biggest designers from around the world of gaming to chip in with their own picks for 2017.
The sci-fi excitement continues with a close look at the return of legendary strategy epic Twilight Imperium. We chat with the game’s original creator and the designers who inherited its legacy to find out what’s new in fourth edition. Plus, we give our definitive verdict in the reviews section!
If you want even MORE sci-fi, we reveal how phenomenal series The Expanse went from the tabletop to TV and back again.
If fantasy’s more your style, we’ve spoken with the studio behind not just one, but two, upcoming roleplaying games based on the Warhammer universe. Cubicle 7 explains how Fantasy Roleplay and Age of Sigmar are shaping up to be something special indeed.
Still hungry for more? Allow us to satisfy your appetite with an in-depth look at how Euro masterpiece Food Chain Magnate was made, with a little help from the founders of renowned studio Splotter.
Speaking of renowned designers, the creator of World War II classic Axis & Allies is back with his biggest wargame simulation yet – Larry Harris tells us all about his plans for War Room.
Of course, we haven’t ignored the fact that Christmas is fast approaching. This issue’s 10 of the Best list is a special Christmas gaming gift guide, so you can find the perfect tabletop-themed prezzie for the special people in your life (or just yourself – after all, you’re special too!).
That’s just the beginning of what’s in store inside our first monthly issue – dive in!